Chelsea Flower Show garden to help mental health patients

THE Royal Horticultural Society will donate a Chelsea Flower Show garden to the NHS to help people with mental health problems.

The RHS has joined forces with the health service as it celebrates its 70th anniversary and, as part of a campaign, NHS mental health trusts have been invited to enter a competition to win a “Feel Good” garden.

The garden has been designed by Matt Keightley, the two-time winner of the RHS/BBC people’s choice award at the flower show, to provide a contemporary and therapeutic space focusing on health and wellbeing.

Mr Keightley will redesign it to best suit the space and needs of the winning trust so it can provide a space for staff and patients to garden, relax and get closer to nature.

To raise awareness of the positive impact gardens can have on mental health, the RHS will also be providing advice and tool kits to NHS organisations and staff.

A Kings Fund report on gardens and health, funded by the National Garden Scheme, found that the mental health benefits of gardening included reductions in depression and anxiety and improved social functioning, emotional wellbeing and physical health.

Sue Biggs, RHS director-general, said: “Gardeners have known about mindfulness for generations and, with increased pressures through things like social media, now more than ever we need to get outside, moving and loving nature to calm us, get exercise and be kind to ourselves.”

Tim Kendall, national clinical director for mental health at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “This incredible gift by the RHS of this fantastic garden will be an early birthday present for one of our mental health trusts.”